The Nightbird Project: closing this season with love and creativity

The Nightbird Project brings together people living with life-limiting and serious illnesses for a series of free creative workshops in our Wellbeing Centre. Each session is designed to share stories, spark joy and create new memories in a supportive and uplifting environment.

Over the year, participants have explored everything from painting and making suncatchers to enjoying spa treatments and creating ‘self-portraits’ using personal objects. Guided by community artist Jenny Gaskell, whose work focuses on connection and grief, the project has helped to nurture confidence and wellbeing through creativity.

Lisa Hoctor, Hospice Senior Counsellor at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, said: “For our final session of the year, we created wooden hearts containing a secret message of love, wrapped in colourful wool. We enjoyed alcohol-free fizz, toasting to the journey and our memories of one another.

“There were tears, laughter, hugs and a lot of appreciation. Our mural artist, Charlotte Rigby, also added beautiful words and feedback from participants to our wellbeing centre windows. The group said the project had made a significant difference to their wellbeing, and that they found it fulfilling and confidence-boosting.”